CWC History: India vs Pakistan rivalry, top 3 World Cup clashes

India versus Pakistan is the biggest rivalry in world cricket. The sport, more often than not, has suffered due to the political tensions between the two nations. Both teams have cut off cricketing ties and haven't played any bilateral series against each other since 2012-13. The lack of bilateral series between the two nations have made their matches in ICC tournaments more enthralling.

Players from both countries have often talked about the kind pressure they are under, while playing these matches. The fans do not settle for anything less than a win and implications of a defeat is huge. India versus Pakistan has always been one of the most looked forward match of the ICC World Cup. As a result of the hype and the pressure of expectations, India and Pakistan have produced some of the most memorable World Cup contests. Pakistan have tried hard but is yet to defeat India in a World Cup match. It remains to be seen if they can manage that when they take on India on 16th June at Old Trafford.

Here are the top three World Cup clashes involving arch-rivals India and Pakistan.

#3 2003 World Cup, Centurion

Zaheer Khan pumped up after dismissing Taufiq Umar

In the 2003 World Cup, India and Pakistan clashed in a Group A match at Centurion. Batting first, riding on a brilliant century by Saeed Anwar, Pakistan put on a challenging total of 273 runs on the board. What followed was a rear guard action by the Indian batsmen. Virender Sehwag started the innings in a typical fashion scoring 21 runs off just 14 balls. However, Waqar Younis brought Pakistan back in the game by dismissing Sehwag and Saurav Ganguly in back-to-back deliveries. This did not deter Sachin Tendulkar who played some spectacular shots and raced away to a fifty. Mohammad Kaif played an important hand of 35 runs. Sachin fell just two short of his hundred before putting India in a commanding position. Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh put on an unbeaten partnership of 99 runs and helped India register an emphatic victory.

#2 2011 World Cup, Mohali

Sachin scored a masterclass 85 in India's victory

India and Pakistan were two of the strongest sides in the 2011 World Cup and thus the semi-final encounter between the two was touted to be bigger than the final. Batting first after winning the toss, Virender Sehwag yet again provided India with a rapid start smashing a quickfire 38 off just 32 balls. However, things slowed down for Team India after he was dismissed. Gautam Gambhir's wicket in the 19th over triggered a middle-order collapse. While wickets kept falling at the other end, Tendulkar scored a fighting 85. Suresh Raina's unbeaten knock of 36 ensured that India reached a respectable score of 260 runs.

Indian bowlers kept chipping in with useful wickets throughout the Pakistan innings and Pakistan never looked like winning. In the end, India won the match comprehensively by 29 runs and qualified for the final. Tendulkar was named the man-of-the-match for his 85.

#1 1996 World Cup, Bengaluru

Prasad elated after uprooting Aamir Sohail's off stump

Pakistan faced an in-form Indian side in the second quarter-final of the 1996 World Cup. Batting first, the Indian team got off to a brilliant start as Tendulkar and Navjot Sidhu stitched a crucial partnership of 90 runs. While Sachin got out on 31, Sidhu scored 93. However, the knock that gave the Indian innings a real impetus was Ajay Jadeja's swashbuckling knock of 45 runs off 25 balls. Jadeja was particularly severe on Waqar Younis, who conceded 40 runs in his last two overs. India set a daunting target of 288 runs.

Pakistan wasn't going to give up without a fight and were coasting along comfortably before a moment of madness perhaps cost them the match. Aamir Sohail showed his bat to Venkatesh Prasad pointing at the cover region, the place where he had hit him for a couple of boundaries. Prasad gave a perfect reply by cleaning up Sohail in the very next ball. Pakistan failed to recover from the setback and lost the match by 39 runs.